Shovel connectable with an information terminal

ABSTRACT

A shovel performing a work by being operated by a driver includes a lower running body, an upper turning body mounted on the lower running body and a control device that controls an operation of a hydraulic actuator in response to an operation applied to an operation lever. A cabin is provided in the upper turning body. An attaching part is provided in the cabin and is capable of attaching a multifunctional portable information terminal having a display and input function, a wireless communication function and a voice recognition function. The attaching part includes a connecting part connected to the multifunctional portable information terminal. The control device performs data communication with the multifunctional portable information terminal through the connecting part, and supplies electric power from an electric accumulation part of the shovel to the multifunctional portable information terminal through the connecting part.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/591,251, filed on Jan. 7, 2015, which is a continuationapplication filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) claiming benefit under 35U.S.C. 120 and 365(c) of PCT International Application No.PCT/JP2013/068767 filed on Jul. 9, 2013, designating the U.S., whichclaims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-160909,filed on Jul. 19, 2012. The disclosures of the prior applications arehereby incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present invention relates to a shovel connectable with aninformation terminal.

Description of Related Art

It has been suggested to manage an operation of a shovel by a managingdevice using a computer. Specifically, it is suggested to provide amonitor device including an input device and a display device in adriver's cab of a shovel in order to allow a driver to input a workcondition and display information indicating an operating condition oroperating situation to the driver.

If a known monitor device is provided in the vicinity of a driver'sseat, the monitor device may be an obstacle for a view of the driverseating on the driver's seat because the monitor device is large. Alarge glass window is provided in front of the driver's seat in thedriver's cab of the shovel so that the drive can see a position toperform a work. The driver seating on the driver's seat operates theshovel by operating an operation device while watching ahead of thedriver's cab through the glass window.

Because the operation device and other devices are provided in thevicinity of the driver's seat, there is a limited space for arrangingthe monitor device. As a location of arranging the monitor device whichallows the driver to view the monitor device while seeing ahead of thedriver's cab, a location close to a front frame of the driver's cab issuitable. With the monitor device arranged at this position, the driverwho is watching ahead of the driver's cab can see the display device ofthe monitor device by slightly shifting one's visual line and also caneasily operate the input device of the monitor device by merelyextending one's arm.

However, the size of the known monitor device is determined withoutconsidering an influence given to the driver's view. Thus, even if themonitor device is placed in the vicinity of the front frame of thedriver's cab, the monitor device may be an obstacle for the driver'sview. Additionally, if an expensive monitor device is installed as anexclusive component part to all shovels, a cost of each shovel israised.

Thus, it is desirable to develop a shovel that can provide the sameinput and display function as the known monitor device withoutinstalling an exclusive monitor device to the shovel.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided ashovel performing a work by being operated by a driver. The shovelincludes a lower running body, an upper turning body mounted on thelower running body. An engine is arranged on the upper turning body. Ahydraulic pump discharges operating oil by a power of the engine. Ahydraulic actuator is driven by the operating oil discharged by thehydraulic pump. A control device controls an operation of the hydraulicactuator in response to an operation applied to an operation lever. Acabin is provided in the upper turning body. An attaching part isprovided in the cabin and configured to be capable of attaching amultifunctional portable information terminal having a display and inputfunction, a wireless communication function and a voice recognitionfunction. The attaching part includes a connecting part connected to themultifunctional portable information terminal. The control deviceperforms data communication with the multifunctional portableinformation terminal through the connecting part, and supplies electricpower from an electric accumulation part of the shovel to saidmultifunctional portable information terminal through the connectingpart.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a shovel according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a drive systemof the shovel illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an interior of a cabin provided with anattaching part for a multifunctional portable information terminal;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cabin provided with the attaching part fora multifunctional portable information terminal;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a connection of a controller ofthe shovel and a multifunctional portable information terminal;

FIG. 6 is a main screen provided by a shovel control application;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a main screen displaying process;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a voice command executing process;

FIG. 9 is an example of a voice command recognition screen;

FIG. 10 is a property chart illustrating a relationship between adischarge pressure and a discharge flow rate of a main pump when anumber of revolutions of an engine is maintained constant;

FIG. 11 is an example of a screen of a display part of themultifunctional portable information terminal where an image taken by aback monitor camera is displayed;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a shovel abnormality time process;

FIG. 13 is an example of a communication link screen;

FIG. 14 is another example of the communication link screen;

FIG. 15 is a further example of the communication link screen; and

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a drive system of a hybrid shovelaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A description will now be given, with reference to the drawings, ofembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a shovel (excavator) according to an embodimentof the present invention. The shovel includes a lower running body 1 andan upper turning body 3 mounted on the lower running body 1 via aturning mechanism 2. A boom 4 is attached to the upper turning body 3.An arm 5 is attached to an end of the boom 4. A bucket 6 is attached toan end of the arm 5. The boom 4, arm 5 and bucket 6 are hydraulicallydriven by a boom cylinder 7, arm cylinder 8 and bucket cylinder 9,respectively. A cabin 10 is provided to the upper turning body 3. Apower source such as an engine is also provided to the upper turningbody 3. The cabin 10 is provided with a driver's seat so that a driveror operator operates the shovel while sitting on the driver's seat.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a drive system ofthe shovel illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, double lines denote amechanical power system, bold solid lines denote high-pressure hydrauliclines, thin dashed lines denote pilot lines, and a bold dashed linearrow denotes an electric drive/control system.

The drive system of the shovel is mainly constituted by an engine 11, amain pump 14, a pilot pump 15, a control valve 17, an operation device26 and a controller 30.

The engine 11 is a drive power source of the shovel, and is operated tomaintain a predetermined number of revolutions. An output axis of theengine 11 is connected to an input axis of each of the main pump 14 andthe pilot pump 15.

The main pump 14 is, for example, a swash plate type variable capacityhydraulic pump, which supplies operating oil to the control valve 17through a high pressure hydraulic line 16. The pilot pump 15 is, forexample, a fixed capacity hydraulic pump, which supplies operating oilto various hydraulic control devices through a pilot line 25.

The control valve 17 is a hydraulic control valve for controlling thehydraulic system in the hydraulic shovel. The control valve 17selectively supplies the operating oil supplied from the main pump 14 toone or a plurality of the boom cylinder 7, arm cylinder 8, bucketcylinder 9, running hydraulic motor 1A (right), running hydraulic motor1B (left) and turning hydraulic motor 2A. Note that, in the followingdescription, the boom cylinder 7, the arm cylinder 8, bucket cylinder 9,running hydraulic motor 1A (right), running hydraulic motor 1B (left)and turning hydraulic motor 2A are collectively referred to as the“hydraulic actuator”.

The operation device 26 is used by an operator to operate the hydraulicactuators by supplying the operating oil supplied from the pilot pump 15to pilot ports of the flow control valve corresponding to the respectivehydraulic actuators through the pilot line 25. The pressure of theoperating oil supplied to each of the pilot ports is set to a pressureresponding to an operating direction and operating amount of anoperation lever 26A or 26B or a pedal 26C corresponding to a respectiveone of the hydraulic actuators.

The controller 30 is a control device for controlling an operating speedof each of the hydraulic actuators, which is constituted by a computerequipped with, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM(Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. The CPU of thecontroller 30 executes processes corresponding to programs correspondingto the operation and function of the shovel while reading the programsfrom the ROM and developing it on the RAM.

In the shovel having the above-mentioned structure, an input and displaydevice is arranged in the vicinity of the driver's seat in order toassist the driver to operate the shovel. In the present embodiment, aportable information device (generally, referred to as the “portableterminal”) is used as the input and display device. More specifically, aso-called smartphone, tablet terminal, etc., which is a multifunctionalportable information terminal as a portable terminal is arranged in thevicinity of the driver's seat to use as an input and display device. Thedriver can input information and instructions to the control part of theshovel using the display and input function of the multifunctionalportable information terminal. Moreover, information can be provided tothe driver by causing an operating condition and control information ofthe shovel to be displayed on the display part of the multifunctionalportable information terminal.

In recent years, the multifunctional portable information terminal hasbeen spread widely, and most of drivers of shovels have themultifunctional portable information terminal. Thus, by providing anattaching part such as a holder to attach a multifunctional portableinformation terminal at a predetermined position in the vicinity of thedriver's seat, the driver of the shovel can use one's ownmultifunctional portable information terminal by attaching the one's ownmultifunctional portable information terminal to the attaching part whenstarting an operation of the shovel. The portable device used as aninput and display apparatus of the shovel as mentioned above is notlimited to one's own multifunctional portable information terminal, andmay be a portable device which is previously prepared to be used for ashovel by the employer.

The attaching part for the multifunctional portable information terminalis provided with a connector for connecting the multifunctional portableinformation terminal to the control part of the shovel to perform datacommunication so that the data communication can be performed betweenthe multifunctional portable information terminal and the control partof the shovel in a state where the multifunctional portable informationterminal is attached to the attaching part. Many multifunctionalportable information terminal of recent years are provided with a microUSB connector socket for connecting with an external device. Thus, byproviding a micro USB connector socket in the attaching part for themultifunctional portable information terminal, the multifunctionalportable information terminal can be connected to the control part ofthe shovel.

There are many cases where a multifunctional portable informationterminal of recent years is provided with a short-distance wirelesscommunication device using Bluetooth (Registered Trademark) or ashort-distance wireless communication device using an infraredcommunication. Thus, the data communication between the multifunctionalportable information terminal and the control part of the shovel may beperformed using such a short-distance wireless communication.

Here, if the display device of the multifunctional portable informationterminal is continuously used, the battery runs out for, for example, 2to 3 hours of use. If the time of work by the shovel is longer than thebattery run-out time, the multifunctional portable information terminalbecomes unusable in the middle of the work. Thus, according to thepresent embodiment, an electric power can be supplied from the powersupply part of the shovel to the multifunctional portable informationterminal in a state where the multifunctional portable informationterminal is attached to the attaching part.

Specifically, if, for example, the data communication is performed usingthe micro USB connector as mentioned above, a power supply can beperformed through the micro USB connector. If the multifunctionalportable information terminal has a connector exclusive for powersupply, a connector connectable to such a connector may be provided tothe attaching part.

As mentioned above, by providing the attaching part for themultifunctional portable information terminal in the vicinity of thedriver's seat in the cabin 10 of the shovel, the multifunctionalportable information terminal can be used as an input and display deviceof the shovel by merely attaching the multifunctional portableinformation terminal to the attaching part.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the cabin illustrating the interior of thecabin provided with the attaching part for the multifunctional portableinformation terminal. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cabin provided withthe attaching part for the multifunctional portable informationterminal.

An attaching part 50 for attaching a multifunctional portableinformation terminal 40 includes an installation table 52 and a mountingpart 54 supported by the installation table 52. The installation table52 is attached and fixed to a frame 10 a of the cabin 10 provided with adriver's seat 60. The mounting part 54 is supported by the installationtable 52 via a vibration suppressing mechanism 56 including an elasticmaterial such as a spring or soft rubber so that a vibration or shock inthe cabin 10 is not directly transmitted to the mounting part 54 via thevibration suppressing mechanism 56. That is, the mounting part issupported by the installation table 52 via the vibration suppressingmechanism 56 so that a vibration or shock transmitted to themultifunctional portable information terminal fixed to the mounting part54 is suppressed.

Generally, the boom 4 is located on the right side of the driver sittingon the driver's seat 60, and, in many cases, the driver operates theshovel while visually recognizing the bucket 6 and the arm 5 attached tothe end of the boom 4. Although the frame 10 a on the front right sideof the cabin 10 is a part that blocks the view of the driver, theattaching part 50 for the multifunctional portable information terminal40 is provided using this part in the present embodiment. Thus, becausethe multifunctional portable information terminal 40 is located in anarea that already obstructs view, the multifunctional portableinformation terminal 40 itself cannot block the driver's view. Dependingon the width of the frame 10 a, the multifunctional portable informationterminal 40 is preferably placed vertically on and fixed to the mountingpart 54 so that the entire multifunctional portable information terminal40 falls within the width of the frame 10 a.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the connection between thecontroller 30 (control device) of the shovel and the multifunctionalportable information terminal 40. In the present embodiment, asillustrated in FIG. 5, the attaching part 50 includes a switch panel 51.The switch panel 51 is a panel including various hardware switches, andis attached to the mounting part 54. In the present embodiment, theswitch panel 51 includes a light switch 51 a, wiper switch 51 b andwindow washer switch 51 c. The light switch 51 a is a switch for turningon/off a light attached to the exterior of the cabin 10. The wiperswitch is a switch for operating/stopping a wiper. The window washerswitch 51 c is a switch for injecting an window washer liquid.

When the multifunctional portable information terminal 40 is attached tothe mounting part 54 of the attaching part 50, the multifunctionalportable information terminal 40 is connected to the controller 30 ofthe shovel via a connecting part 58. More specifically, a plug of amicro USB connector provided in the mounting part 54 is inserted intoand connected to a receptacle (socket) of a micro USB connector of themultifunctional portable information terminal 40, and, thereby, datacommunication can be performed between the multifunctional portableinformation terminal 40 and the controller 30. In the presentembodiment, the micro USB connector constitutes the connecting part 58.

The micro USB connector is a connector that enables an electric powersupply as well as the connection for data communication. The controller30 is driven by electric power supplied from a rechargeable battery(storage battery) 70 (for example, 24 V battery) mounted to the shovel.Because the controller 30 is capable of causing an electric power to besupplied from the rechargeable battery 70 to the multifunctionalportable information terminal 40 via the connecting part 58, themultifunctional portable information terminal 40 can be operated withthe electric power supplied from the rechargeable battery 70 of theshovel without consuming its own battery power. Moreover, the form ofthe connecting part 58 is not limited to a contact type such as themicro USB connector in which wires are caused to contact with eachother, and may be of a non-contact type.

The rechargeable battery 70 is charged by electric power generated by analternator 11 a of the engine 11. The electric power of the storagebattery is supplied also to an electric component 72 of the shovel otherthan the controller 30. Moreover, a starter 11 b of the engine 11 isdriven by the electric power from the storage battery to start theengine 11.

The engine 11 is controlled by an engine control unit (ECU) 74. Variouskinds of data indicating a state of the engine 11 (for example, dataindicating a cooling water temperature (physical amount)) is alwaystransmitted from the ECU 74 to the controller 30. Accordingly, thecontroller 30 can store the data in a temporary storing part (memory) 30a to send the data to the multifunctional portable information terminal40 when it is needed.

The controller 30 is supplied with various kinds of data as mentionedbelow, and the data is stored in the temporary storing part 30 a.

First, data indicating a swash plate angle is supplied to the controller30 from a regulator 14 a of the main pump 14, which is a variablecapacity hydraulic pump. Additionally, data indicating a dischargepressure of the main pump 14 is sent to the controller 30 from adischarge pressure sensor 14 b. These sets of data (data indicatingphysical amounts) are stored in the temporary storing part 30 a. An oiltemperature sensor 14 c is provided to a tank in which the operating oilto be taken in by the main pump 14 is stored, and data indicating atemperature of the operating oil in the tank is supplied to thecontroller 30 from the oil temperature sensor 14 c.

Moreover, a pilot pressure sent to the control valve 17 when operatingthe operation levers and pedal 26A to 26C is detected by hydraulicpressure sensors 15 a and 15 b, and data indicating the detected pilotpressure is sent to the controller 30. The data (data indicating aphysical amount) is stored in the temporary storing part 30 a.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, theshovel is equipped with an engine revolution number adjusting dial 75 inthe cabin 10. The engine revolution number adjusting dial 75 is a dialfor adjusting a number of revolutions of an engine, and, in the presentembodiment, capable of changing the number of revolutions of the enginein four steps. Additionally, data indicating a setting state of thenumber of revolutions of the engine is always sent to the controller 30.The engine revolution number adjusting dial 75 can switch the number ofrevolutions of the engine between four steps, that is, an SP mode, Hmode, A mode and idling mode. Note that FIG. 5 illustrates a state wherethe H mode is selected by the engine revolution number adjusting dial75.

The SP mode is a work mode that is selected when it is desirous to givea priority to an amount of work. A highest number of revolutions of theengine is used in the SP mode. The H mode is a work mode that isselected when it is desirous to achieve both a large amount of work anda low fuel consumption. A second highest number of revolutions of theengine is used in the H mode. The A mode is a work mode that is selectedwhen it is desirous to operate the shovel with a low noise while apriority is given to a fuel consumption. A third highest number ofrevolutions of the engine is used in the A mode. The idling mode is awork mode that is selected when it is desirous to set the engine in anidling state. A lowest number of revolutions of the engine is used inthe idling mode. The engine 11 is subjected to a revolution numbercontrol to maintain one of the numbers of revolutions of the engine,which is set by the engine revolution number adjusting dial 75.

A description is given below, with reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, ofapplication software for controlling a shovel (hereinafter, referred toas the “shovel control application”) that runs on the multifunctionalportable information terminal 40. FIG. 6 is an example of a main screenprovided by the shovel control application. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of aprocess for displaying the main screen of the shovel control applicationby the multifunctional portable information terminal 40 (hereinafter,referred to as the “main screen display process”).

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the main screen 41 of the shovel controlapplication is displayed on a display and input device 40 c of themultifunctional portable information terminal 40. In the presentembodiment, the main screen 41 includes a time display part 41 a, runmode display part 41 b, attachment display part 41 c, average fuelconsumption display part 41 d, exhaust gas filter display part 41 e,engine operation time display part 41 f, cooling water temperaturedisplay part 41 g, fuel remaining amount display part 41 h, work modedisplay part 41 i and operating oil temperature display part 41 k.

The time display part 41 a is an area for displaying a present time. Inthe example illustrated in FIG. 6, a digital display is used, and it isindicated that the present time is “9:25”.

The run mode display part 41 b is an area for displaying a present runmode. The run mode represents a setting state of a hydraulic motor forrunning using a variable capacity pump. Specifically, the run modeincludes a low-speed mode and a high-speed mode. The low-speed mode isdisplayed by a tortoise-shaped mark, and the high-speed mode isdisplayed by a rabbit-shaped mark. In the example illustrated in FIG. 6,the rabbit-shaped mark is displayed and, thereby, the driver canrecognize that the high-speed mode is set.

The attachment display part 41 c is an area for displaying an imagerepresenting an attachment that is presently attached. Attachmentsattachable to a shovel include a bucket, rock breaker, grapple, liftingmagnet, etc. The attachment display part 41 c displays, for example, amark shaped in one of these attachments and a number corresponding tothe one of these attachments. In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, arock-breaker-shaped mark is displayed and also “3” as a numberindicating an output of the rock breaker is displayed.

The average fuel consumption display part 41 d is an area for displayingan average fuel consumption at a present time. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 6, a value using a unit [L/hr (litter/hour)] isdisplayed. The present average fuel concentration may be displayed usingother representations such as a bar graph or the like. Note that theaverage fuel consumption is acquired based on a command value of a fuelinjection amount returned from the controller 30 to the engine 11.

The exhaust gas filter state display part 41 e is an area for displayinga degree of clogging of an exhaust gas filter (for example, a dieselparticulate filter (DPF)). In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, a bargraph indicating a ratio of a present use time to a maximum use time ofthe exhaust gas filter is displayed.

The engine operation time display part 41 f is an area for displaying anaccumulated operation time of the engine. In the example illustrated inFIG. 6, a value using a unit “hr (hour)” is displayed.

The cooling water temperature display part 41 g is an area fordisplaying a present temperature of the engine cooling water. In theexample illustrated in FIG. 6, a bar graph indicating a state of thecooling water temperature is displayed.

The fuel remaining amount display part 41 h is an area for displaying aremaining amount of the fuel stored in a fuel tank. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 6, a bar graph indicating a state of a present fuelremaining amount is displayed.

The work mode display part 41 i is an area for displaying a present workmode. The work mode includes, for example, four modes such as theabove-mentioned SP mode, H mode, A mode and idling mode. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 6, a sign “H” representing the H mode is displayed.

The operating oil temperature display part 41 k is an area fordisplaying a temperature of the operating oil in the operating oil tank.In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, a bar graph indicating a state ofthe operating oil temperature is displayed.

Next, a description is given, with reference to FIG. 7, of a flow of amain screen display process. The multifunctional portable informationterminal 40 executes the main screen display process each time it isattached to the mounting part 54 of the attaching part 50. The shovelcontrol application is downloaded through a network. The shovel controlapplication may be distributed using a recording medium.

First, the multifunctional portable information terminal 40 activatesthe shovel control application (step S1).

Thereafter, the multifunctional portable information terminal 40 sendsidentification information of its own previously stored therein to thecontroller 30 in order to acquire an authentication by the controller 30(step S2).

If an authentication by the controller 30 is not acquired (NO in stepS2), the multifunctional portable information terminal 40 ends the mainscreen display process at this time without causing a cooperation withthe controller 30 to begin and without displaying the main screen 41.

On the other hand, if an authentication by the controller 30 is acquired(YES in step S2), the multifunctional portable information terminal 40causes a cooperation with the controller 30 (step S3). Specifically, themultifunctional portable information terminal 40 receives various kindsof data (fuel remaining amount, etc.), which are necessary fordisplaying the main screen 41, from the controller 30.

Thereafter, the multifunctional portable information terminal 40displays the main screen 41, and updates display contents in the displayparts such as the run mode display part 41 b, attachment display part41, etc., based on the various kinds of data received from thecontroller 30 (step S4).

As mentioned above, upon causing a cooperation with the controller 30 tostart, the multifunctional portable information terminal 40 displays themain screen 41 on the display and input device 40 c. Additionally, thecontroller 30 is set in a state where it can receive a command from themultifunctional portable information terminal 40 by causing acooperation with the multifunctional portable information terminal 40.

Here, a description is given, with reference to FIG. 5 again, of thecooperation between the controller 30 of the shovel and themultifunctional portable information terminal 40.

In the present embodiment, a switch 42, which is operated when a driverdesires to use a voice input function of the multifunctional portableinformation terminal 40, is provided to the operation lever 26A. Whenthe driver operates the switch 42, a signal is sent to the controller30. The controller 30 sends a control signal to the multifunctionalportable information terminal 40 based on the signal so as to turn onthe voice input function of the multifunctional portable informationterminal 40.

Thus, the driver can easily operate the switch 42 without releasing theoperation lever so that the drive can input a command to the controldevice of the shovel using the voice input function of themultifunctional portable information terminal 40.

As a microphone for voice inputting, a microphone 40 a incorporated inthe multifunctional portable information terminal 40 can be used. Thatis, the driver can input a voice signal from the microphone 40 a to avoice recognition part 40 b of the multifunctional portable informationterminal 40 by uttering a voice indicating a desired command toward themultifunctional portable information terminal 40 after operating theswitch 42 provided to the operation lever. The voice recognition part 40b of the multifunctional portable information terminal 40 applies avoice recognition process to the voice signal input from the microphone40 a, and determines a command corresponding to the input voice signal.The command determined by the voice recognition part 40 b is displayedon the display and input device 40 c (for example, a touch panel) of themultifunctional portable information terminal 40, and is sent to thecontroller 30 of the shovel through the connecting part 58. As mentionedabove, a command intended by the driver is input to the shovel throughthe voice recognition function of the multifunctional portableinformation terminal 40. Note that an external microphone 44 may beconnected to the multifunctional portable information terminal 40, andthe external microphone 44 may be arranged at a position where thedriver can easily input a voice.

A description will be given, with reference to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, of acase where the driver raises a number of revolutions of the engine 11using the voice input. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of aprocess for executing a function corresponding to a driver's voicecommand that is recognized by the multifunctional portable informationterminal 40 (hereinafter, referred to as the “voice command executionprocess”). FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a screen that is displayedon the display and input device 40 c (hereinafter, referred to as the“voice command recognition screen”) when the voice recognition part 40 bcan recognize the contents of the voice input by the drivers as a voicecommand.

First, the voice recognition part 40 b of the multifunctional portableinformation terminal 40 determines whether the voice input by the drivercan be recognized as a voice command (step S11).

If the voice input by the driver cannot be recognized as a voice command(NO in step S11), the multifunctional portable information terminal 40ends the voice command execution process at this time. For example, evenwhen the voice of the driver can be recognized as a word having meaning,the multifunctional portable information terminal 40 determines that itis not a voice command and ends the voice command executing process ifthe recognized word corresponds to a predetermined word (hereinafter,referred to as the “registered word”) registered beforehand.

On the other hand, if the voice input by the driver can be recognized asa voice command (YES in step S11), the multifunctional portableinformation terminal 40 displays the contents of the recognized commandon the display and input device 40 c (step S12).

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a voice command recognition screen of acase where the voice input “SP” by the driver can be recognized as aregistered word “SP” corresponding to the function for increasing anumber of revolutions of the engine. In this case, the multifunctionalportable information terminal 40 causes a voice command display part 41m including the contents of the recognized voice command “raise thenumber of revolutions of the engine” and the registered word “SP” to bedisplayed in a pop-up manner.

Thereafter, the multifunctional portable information terminal 40 sendsthe command signal corresponding to the recognized voice command to thecontroller 30 (step S13). Note that the order of step S12 and step S13is not fixed, and the multifunctional portable information terminal 40may cause the voice command recognition screen to be displayed aftersending the command signal, or may perform the sending of the commandsignal and the display of the voice command recognition screensimultaneously.

Thereafter, the controller 30, which received the command signal,performs a function corresponding to the command signal (step S14). Inthe present embodiment, the controller 30 performs the function forincreasing a number of revolutions of the engine.

As mentioned above, the driver can increase a number of revolutions ofthe engine by using the voice input function of the multifunctionalportable information terminal 40.

More specifically, in order to perform the voice input, first, thedriver presses the switch 42 provided to the operation lever 26A.Thereby, the voice recognition part 40 b of the multifunctional portableinformation terminal 40 is set in an on state. Then, when the driverutter a voice “raise the number of revolutions of the engine” or “SP”,the microphone 40 a of the multifunctional portable information terminal40 picks up the voice of the driver, and sends the voice signalcorresponding to the voice to the voice recognition part 40 b.

The voice recognition part 40 b of the multifunctional portableinformation terminal 40 applies the voice recognition process to thesent voice signal, and sends the process signal for instructing the“raising the number of revolutions of the engine” to the controller 30.Upon receipt of the process signal, the controller 30 sends a command tothe ECU 74 to increase the number of revolutions by a predeterminednumber of revolutions based on the process signal. Upon reception of thecommand, the ECU 74 causes the number of revolutions of the engine 11 tobe increased by the predetermined number of revolutions.

Further, the controller 30 sends a signal to the regulator in order toincrease the output horse power of the main pump 14 to correspond to theincrease in the number of revolutions of the engine. Thereby, asillustrated in FIG. 10, the pump output characteristic is changed, forexample, from I1 into I2 so that the output horse power of the main pump14 is increased.

FIG. 10 is a characteristic diagram indicating a relationship between adischarge pressure (P) and discharge flow rate (Q) of the main pump 14in a case where the number of revolutions of the engine 11 is maintainedconstant. In the example illustrated in FIG. 10, the number ofrevolutions of the engine can be changed in 5 steps, and the pump outputcharacteristics of the main pump 14 at the numbers of revolutions areI_(MIN) I₁, I₂, I₃ and I_(MAX).

The driver may perform a function other than the function for increasingthe number of revolutions of the engine by using the voice inputfunction of the multifunctional portable information terminal 40. Forexample, the driver may perform a function for changing the run mode, afunction for displaying an image, which is taken by a camera attached tothe shovel, on the display and input device 40 c, a function forestablishing a communication between the controller 30 and a managementapparatus 90 installed outside the shovel.

For example, there may be a case where the shovel is provided with animaging device 80 for taking an image of a prat out of the driver's view(refer to FIG. 3 to FIG. 5). For example, the imaging device 80 is aso-called back monitor camera that takes an image of a directionopposite to a direction in which the cabin 10 faces (a rearwarddirection) to provide the image to the driver. In the presentembodiment, the image data obtained by the imaging device 80 is sent tothe controller 30. The controller 30 transfers the received image datato the multifunctional portable information terminal 40 to cause theimage to be displayed on the display and input device 40 c of themultifunctional portable information terminal 40. Thereby, the drivercan recognize the image taken by the imaging device 80 with themultifunctional portable information terminal 40.

FIG. 11 is an illustration illustrating a state where an image take bythe back monitor camera is displayed on the display and input device 40c of the multifunctional portable information terminal 40. An image ofan area of the vicinity of a rear part of the shovel, which cannot beseen by the driver, is displayed on the display and input device 40 c ofthe multifunctional portable information terminal 40, and the driver cancheck the situation of the rear direction of the shovel by moving thesight to the display and input device 40 c of the multifunctionalportable information terminal 40 while facing forward. Themultifunctional portable information terminal 40 may display an imagetaken by a side monitor camera so that the driver can check a sidedirection of the shovel.

As mentioned above, according to the present embodiment, themultifunctional portable information terminal 40 can be easily mountedto the shovel on the user side to use it as a display and input deviceby using the multifunctional portable information terminal 40 as thedisplay and input device of the shovel without originally mounting anexpensive and exclusive display and input device to the shovel.Additionally, it becomes possible to perform various controls andmanagements of the shovel using various functions of the multifunctionalportable information terminal 40. For example, as usable functions ofthe multifunctional portable information terminal, there are a callingfunction, image taking function, vibration measuring function,orientation determining function, GPS function, map displaying function,etc. Additionally, not only the multifunctional portable informationterminal 40 such as a smartphone or the like but also an eye-glass typemultifunctional portable information terminal may be used as the displayand input device of the shovel.

In the shovel having the above-mentioned structure, the controller 30determines whether an abnormality occurs in the shovel based oninformation including the above-mentioned various kinds of data. Then,if it is determined that an abnormality occurs, the controller 30 sendsdata, which is accumulated in the temporary storing part 30 a from timet1 to time t2, to the multifunctional portable information terminal 40,the time t1 being a predetermined time period before the time at whichthe determination of the occurrence of the abnormality was made, thetime t2 being the time at which the determination of the occurrence ofthe abnormality was made.

The multifunctional portable information terminal 40 may display datasent from the controller 30 in a time series manner or display the dataon the display and input device 40 c by converting the data into agraph. The driver of the shovel can grasp a state of the shovel beforean occurrence of an abnormality by looking the time series data or thegraph displayed on the multifunctional portable information terminal 40,and can determine what abnormality occurs or which part causes theabnormality.

Moreover, the date sent from the controller 30 may be sent to the remotemanagement apparatus 90 using a wireless communication function of themultifunctional portable information terminal 40 (packet communication)so that the data is displayed on the management apparatus 90. Themanagement apparatus 90 is, for example, a computer installed in amanufacturer or service center of the shovel, and a specialized staffcan grasp a state of the shovel while the stuff is at a remote place.Accordingly, before the stuff goes to repair the shovel, the staff canpreviously identify a cause of the abnormality or bring componentsnecessary for repairing the shovel, thereby reducing a time spent on amaintenance or repair.

Alternatively, if it is determined that an abnormality occurs, thecontroller 30 may transfer the date accumulated in the temporary storingpart 30 a to an abnormality information storing part in the controller30. The data transferred to the abnormality information storing part maybe sent to and displayed on the multifunctional portable informationterminal 40 at a time when it becomes necessary thereafter, or may besent further to the management apparatus 90 of the service center fromthe multifunctional portable information terminal 40 through acommunication network. In the service center, the data at the time ofoccurrence of the abnormality may be displayed on a display part of themanagement apparatus 90 to identify a part where the abnormality occursor a kind of the abnormality.

Next, a description is given, with reference to FIG. 12 through FIG. 14,of a process performed in the multifunctional portable informationterminal 40 (hereinafter, referred to as the “shovel abnormal timeprocess”) when an abnormality of the shovel is detected. FIG. 12 is aflowchart indicating a flow of the shovel abnormality time process. FIG.13 and FIG. 14 are examples of a screen that displays various kinds ofinformation acquired through a communication with the managementapparatus 90 (hereinafter, referred to as the “communication linkscreen”). Additionally, the multifunctional portable informationterminal 40 performs the shovel abnormal time process when anabnormality of the shovel is detected based on a notification from thecontroller 30.

First, the multifunctional portable information terminal 40 displays thecommunication link screen (step S21). In the present embodiment, thecommunication link screen includes, as illustrated in FIG. 13, an agentinformation display part 41 n, send button 41 p and call button 41 q.The agent information display part 41 n is an area for displayinginformation regarding a contact address at the time of abnormality inthe shovel, such as an agent of a sales company of the shovel. The sendbutton 41 p and call button 41 q are software buttons displayed on thedisplay and input device 40 c. When the send button 41 p is tapped, themultifunctional portable information terminal 40 sends the data storedin a predetermined area in the controller 30. When the call button 41 qis tapped, the multifunctional portable information terminal 40 makes acall to the contact address, which is in a selected state on the displayand input device 40 c.

Thereafter, the multifunctional portable information terminal 40 sendsposition information of its own to the management apparatus 90 (stepS22). In the present embodiment, the multifunctional portableinformation terminal 40 sends position information acquired using theGPS function to the management apparatus 90. The management apparatus 90creates agent information by searching information regarding an agentexisting within a predetermined distance range from the present positionof the multifunctional portable information terminal 40 based on theposition information received from the multifunctional portableinformation terminal 40. Then, the management apparatus 90 sends thecreated agent information to the multifunctional portable informationterminal 40.

Thereafter, the multifunctional portable information terminal 40receives the agent information from the management apparatus 90 (stepS23), and displays the received agent information on the agentinformation display part 41 n of the communication link screen (stepS24). FIG. 13 illustrates a state where three agents are retrieved as anearest agent.

Thereafter, the multifunctional portable information terminal 40determines whether a specific agent is selected (step S25). In thepresent embodiment, the multifunctional portable information terminal 40determines whether any one of the areas corresponding to the respectivethree agents in the agent information display part 41 n is tapped by thedriver.

If it is determined that a specific agent is not selected yet (NO instep S25), the multifunctional portable information terminal 40 waitsuntil a specific agent is selected.

If it is determined that a specific agent is selected (YES in step S25),the multifunctional portable information terminal 40 displays theselected agent and detail information of the selected agent on thedisplay and input device 40 c (step S26). In the present embodiment, themultifunctional portable information terminal 40 displays thecommunication link screen containing a selected agent display part 41 r,which displays the selected specific agent, and a detail informationdisplay part 41 s, which displays information of details of the selectedspecific agent. FIG. 14 illustrates a state where a specific agent isselected and information of details of the selected agent is displayed.

Thereafter, the multifunctional portable information terminal 40determines whether the send button 41 p is tapped (step S27).

Then, if it is determined that the send button 41 p is not tapped (NO instep S27), the multifunctional portable information terminal 40 waitsuntil the send button 41 p is tapped.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the send button 41 p istapped (YES in step S27), the multifunctional portable informationterminal 40 sends a data transfer command to the controller 30 (stepS28). In the present embodiment, upon reception of the data transfercommand, the controller 30 sends data, which is stored in apredetermined area such as the temporary storing part 30 a, theabnormality information storing part, etc., to the multifunctionalportable information terminal 40.

Thereafter, the multifunctional portable information terminal 40receives the data sent from the controller 30 (step S29), and transfersthe received data to the management apparatus 90 (step S30).

If the call button 41 q is tapped, the multifunctional portableinformation terminal 40 dials the telephone number of the agent that isset in a selected state.

As mentioned above, the multifunctional portable information terminal 40automatically displays the communication link screen when an abnormalityis detected in the shovel so that the driver can easily take measuressuch as a contact to the agent.

Next, a description is given, with reference to FIG. 15, of anotherexample of the communication link screen displayed on the display andinput device 40 c when performing the shovel abnormality time process.The communication link screen illustrated in FIG. 15 includes the sendbutton 41 p, call button 41 q, detail information display part 41 s anda map display part 41 t.

In the present embodiment, the multifunctional portable informationterminal 40 receives agent information from the management apparatus 90,and displays the communication link screen on the display and inputdevice 40 c after a specific agent is selected. Note that themultifunctional portable information terminal 40 may display thecommunication link screen before a specific agent is selected.

The map display part 41 t is a part for displaying map information, andincludes a present position icon 41 u, which indicates a presentposition of the shovel (the multifunctional portable informationterminal 40), and an agent position icon 41 v, which indicates aposition of the retrieved or selected agent.

The driver can perform scrolling, reducing and enlarging of mapinformation on the map display part 41 t using a swipe operation,pinch-in operation, pinch-out operation, etc., on the multifunctionalportable information terminal 40.

As mentioned above, the multifunctional portable information terminal 40displays the map information when an abnormality is detected in theshovel so that the driver can easily recognize a positional relationshipbetween the shovel and the agent. Additionally, the multifunctionalportable information terminal 40 makes an exclusive communicationcontroller, which is to be attached to the shovel, unnecessary so as toattempt a cost reduction of the shovel. Moreover, the vibrationmeasuring function provided in the multifunctional portable informationterminal 40 can be used in a failure analysis of components constitutingthe shovel. Furthermore, the orientation determining function providedin the multifunctional portable information terminal 40 can be used whendisplaying an orientation of the shovel on the map display part 41 t.

Although the multifunctional portable information terminal is mounted tothe shovel in the above-mentioned embodiments, the multifunctionalportable information terminal may be mounted to a hybrid shovel having astructure illustrated in FIG. 16. A description is given below of astructure of a hybrid shovel. In FIG. 16, double lines denote amechanical power system, bold solid lines denote high-pressure hydrauliclines, dashed thin lines denote pilot lines, and thin solid linesdenotes an electric drive/control system.

The engine 11 as a mechanical drive part and a motor generator 12 as anassist drive part are connected to two input axes of a transmission 13,respectively. The main pump 14 and the pilot pump 15 as hydraulic pumpsare connected to an output axis of the transmission 13. The controlvalve 17 is connected to the main pump 14 via the high-pressurehydraulic line 16.

The control valve 17 is a control device for controlling the hydraulicsystem in the hybrid shovel. Hydraulic motors 1A (right) and 1B (left)for the lower running body 1, a boom cylinder 7, an arm cylinder 8 and abucket cylinder 9 are connected to the control valve 17 via thehigh-pressure hydraulic lines.

An electric accumulation system 120 including a capacitor as an electricaccumulator is connected to the motor generator via an inverter 18A. Aturning electric motor 21 as an electric work element is connected tothe electric accumulation system 120 via an inverter 20. A resolver 22,mechanical brake 23 and turning transmission 24 are connected to arotation axis 21A of a turning electric motor 21. The operation device26 is connected to the pilot pump 15 via the pilot line 25. The turningelectric motor 21, inverter 20, resolver 22, mechanical brake 23 andturning transmission 24 together constitute a load drive system.

The operation device 26 includes the operation lever 26A, the operationlever 26B and the pedal 26C. The operation lever 26A, the operationlever 26B and the pedal 26C are connected to the control valve 17 andthe pressure sensor 29 via hydraulic lines 27 and 28, respectively. Thepressure sensor 29 is connected to the controller 30, which performs adrive control for an electric system.

The controller 30 is a control device as a main control part forperforming a drive control for the hybrid shovel. The controller 30 isconstituted by an operation processing device including a CPU (CentralProcessing Unit) and an internal memory, and is a device materialized bythe CPU executing a drive control program stored in the internal memory.

The controller 30 converts a signal supplied from the pressure sensor 29into a speed command to perform the drive control on the turningelectric motor 21. The signal supplied from the pressure sensor 29corresponds to a signal representing an amount of operation when theoperation device 26 is operated to turn a turning mechanism 2.

The controller 30 performs a drive control of the motor generator 12(switching between an electric drive (assist) operation and a generatingoperation), and also performs a charge and discharge control of thecapacitor as an electric accumulation part of the electric accumulationsystem 120 by drive-controlling a voltage up and down converter of theelectric accumulation system 120. The controller 30 performs a switchingcontrol between an voltage-up operation and a voltage-down operation ofthe voltage up and down converter based on a charge state of thecapacitor, a drive state of the motor generator 12 (an electric drive(assist) operation or a generating operation) and a drive state of theturning electric motor 21 (a power running operation or a regenerativeoperation), and, thereby, performing a charge and discharge control ofthe capacitor.

The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosedembodiments using the above-mentioned shovel as an example, and variousvariations and modifications may be made without departing from thescope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A shovel, comprising: a lower running body; anupper turning body mounted on the lower running body; an engine arrangedon the upper turning body; a hydraulic pump configured to dischargeoperating oil by a power of the engine; a hydraulic actuator configuredto be driven by the operating oil discharged by the hydraulic pump; acontrol device; a cabin provided in the upper turning body; an operationlever provided in the cabin; and a switch provided to the operationlever, the switch being configured to turn on and off a function of amultifunctional portable information terminal having a wirelesscommunication function and a calling function, wherein the switch isconfigured to be operated to cause a signal to be transmitted to thecontrol device, and the control device is configured to transmit acontrol signal to the multifunctional portable information terminalbased on the transmitted signal to turn on or off a voice recognitionfunction of the multifunctional portable information terminal.
 2. Theshovel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multifunctional portableinformation terminal has an image taking function, a vibration measuringfunction, an orientation determining function, a GPS function and a mapdisplaying function.
 3. The shovel as claimed in claim 1, whereininformation regarding an agent of a sales company of the shovel isdisplayed on a communication link screen of the multifunctional portableinformation terminal.
 4. The shovel as claimed in claim 1, wherein apresent position icon indicating a present position of the shovel or themultifunctional portable information terminal and an agent position iconindicating a position of a retrieved or selected agent of a salescompany of the shovel are displayed on the multifunctional portableinformation terminal as map information.
 5. The shovel as claimed inclaim 1, wherein a part of the shovel where an abnormality has occurredand a kind of the abnormality are displayed on the multifunctionalportable information terminal.
 6. The shovel as claimed in claim 1,wherein the multifunctional portable information terminal is connectedto a management apparatus through a communication network.
 7. The shovelas claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device causes a display andinput part of the multifunctional portable information terminal todisplay an image taken by a camera mounted on a cover of the shovel. 8.A shovel, comprising: a lower running body; an upper turning bodymounted on the lower running body; an engine arranged on the upperturning body; a hydraulic pump configured to discharge operating oil bya power of the engine; a hydraulic actuator configured to be driven bythe operating oil discharged by the hydraulic pump; a control device; acabin provided in the upper turning body; an operation lever provided inthe cabin; and a switch provided to the operation lever, the switchbeing configured to turn on and off a function of a multifunctionalportable information terminal having a wireless communication functionand a calling function, wherein the switch is configured to be operatedto cause a signal to be transmitted to the control device, the controldevice is configured to transmit a control signal to the multifunctionalportable information terminal based on the transmitted signal, and acontent of a command corresponding to a command signal transmitted fromthe multifunctional portable information terminal to the control deviceis displayed on a display part.
 9. The shovel as claimed in claim 8,wherein the multifunctional portable information terminal has a voicerecognition function.
 10. The shovel as claimed in claim 8, wherein themultifunctional portable information terminal has an image takingfunction, a vibration measuring function, an orientation determiningfunction, a GPS function and a map displaying function.
 11. The shovelas claimed in claim 8, wherein information regarding an agent of a salescompany of the shovel is displayed on a communication link screen of themultifunctional portable information terminal.
 12. The shovel as claimedin claim 8, wherein a present position icon indicating a presentposition of the shovel or the multifunctional portable informationterminal and an agent position icon indicating a position of a retrievedor selected agent of a sales company of the shovel are displayed on themultifunctional portable information terminal as map information. 13.The shovel as claimed in claim 8, wherein a part of the shovel where anabnormality has occurred and a kind of the abnormality are displayed onthe multifunctional portable information terminal.
 14. The shovel asclaimed in claim 8, wherein the multifunctional portable informationterminal is connected to a management apparatus through a communicationnetwork.
 15. The shovel as claimed in claim 8, wherein the controldevice causes a display and input part of the multifunctional portableinformation terminal to display an image taken by a camera mounted on acover of the shovel.